Automatic sprinkler



July 15, 1941. o. e. JOHNSON wwommc srammm Filed Dec. so, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1941. o. e. JOHNSON 2,249,211

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Oscar G, Johnson, Michigan City, Ind.

Application December 30, 1938, Serial No. 248,544 1 cam. (Cl. 299-49) This invention relates to automatic sprinklers in general and more particularly to automatic lawn sprinklers.

It is highly desirable in sprinkling grass or other vegetation to uniformly cover the same over an extended area with a minimum of care and attention and the primary object of this invention is accordingly to provide an apparatus to that end.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sprinkler apparatus which is automatically propelled over an extended area by the pressure and velocity of the supply water and which simultaneously and automatically distributes the water uniformly over said area.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus which is automatically guided over a predetermined area regardless of whether such area is regular or irregular in shape.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such'an apparatus, the parts of which are simple and economical of manufacture and assembly and are accessible for inspection, renewal or repair, and which is convenient in operation.

Other objects of this invention will be more apparent as the same becomes better understood from an examination of the specification and claim in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the apparatus in operation on a lawn;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view of the sprinkler device per se with parts omitted;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken at the line l4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken at the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring-to the drawings more particularly, reference character I generally designates a sprinkler device connected to a garden hose 2 which is laid out along the course, regularor irregular, on the lawn having regard to the trees, bushes, hedges or flower beds thereon, that it is desired to have the device I travel.

One end of the hose 2 is connected to a source 3 of water supply under the usual pressure. The other end of the hose 2 is doubled back on its laid out part and attached, by means of an ordinary hose coupling or fitting l, to the device I. The device I, as shown in Fig. 2, includes a pair of spaced wheels 5 and 6 which, together with a third wheel hereinafter described, act to movably support the device. The wheels 5 and 6 are mounted on an axle I for rotation therewith. A gear 8 is also mounted on the axle 1 for rotation therewith. A housing is provided in two cast metal sections, one section 9 being flanged and bolted to a second section It, for enclosing the axle l and gear 8 and for also enclosing and supporting a worm gear I I on a shaft l2 and a pinion I3 also on said shaft. The pinion I3 is in mesh with gear 8. The sections 9 and ll! of the housing are provided with opposed bosses and recesses therein forming bearings for the shaft l2. The sections 9 and III are each provided with an integral cooperating boss having a recess therein forming bearings for the shaft l2. The sections 9 and Ill are also each provided with integral cooperating extensions forming a housing for a worm gear I on a turbine shaft l5, the section It having an opening and bushing I6 therein forming abearing for said shaft. The shaft I5 also has a hearing I! spaced from the bushing l6 and formed by an integral extension on the housing casting section III. The shaft l5 has a turbine wheel l8 mounted thereon exteriorly of the bearing ll. The casting II) also is provided with an upward extension [9 which is drilled to form a bearing for a shaft 20 for supporting a nozzle 2| as hereinafter described.

The nozzle 2| is integrally formed with a rightangular pipe 22 threaded to receive the fitting 4 for connection to the hose 2. A pair of supporting arms 23 and 23a are suspended from the shaft 20 and are keyed thereto whereby the nozzle 2| may be moved to cause rotation of said shaft and the latter secured by means of a thumb nut 24 to hold the nozzle in any desired angular adjusted position toward or away from the base of the blades on the turbine wheel It. When the nozzle 2| is adjusted to direct the stream of water directly at the base of the blades on the turbine wheel [8, more of the force of the water will be converted into power for propelling the wheels 5 and 6 whereas when the nozzle is adjusted to direct the stream of water towardthe tip of the blades more of the water is carried laterally of the device and less force utilized in propulsion. A valve 25 and manually operable threaded stem 26 therefor is provided in the nozzle 2| to variably adjust the amount, force and character of the stream leaving the nozzle and incidently the area covered by the reacting stream from the device.

A pair of forwardly extending and inwardly curved angle irons 21 and 28 are bolted one to the housing section It and one to the housing section 9, respectively. The forward end of irons 21 and 28 are welded to cylindrical bosses II and 30. respectively. A shaft in the form of a stud it having its head sunk in the boss ll extends transversely therefrom and is threaded into the boss III for rotatably supporting a flanged guidewheel Ila which acts as the third wheel of the device heretofore mentioned and travels along thelaidoutpartoithehoseltoguidesaid device therealong toward the source I of water s pp y- The wheels I and I may be cast and in the form of lawn-mower wheels or they may take The advantages and operation of the foregoing device and apparatus will be apparent without further detail. l

I am aware that many changes may be made without departina from the principles of this invention and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown or described.

I claim:

In an apparatus oi the character described, the combination of a sprinkler vehicle having spray means and traction wheels automatically operable thereby, a hose connection for delivering water to said means, said connection being below and rearwardly oi the center of said wheels and a guide wheel forwardly of the traction wheels having sheaves tor-following the course oi. a hose,

the latter being doubled back and connected to said connection, thereby allowing the guide wheel ireedom to follow the hose uniniluenced to any substantial extent by the un oi the hose on the 

